Miller's Top Ten American Pharoah Moments, Part 1

It’s hard to believe that we’re so close to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be the final race of American Pharoah’s historic career. The colt has given his fans so many priceless memories, myself included. That’s why I’d like to share my recollections and photos of my top 10 Pharaoh moments with you over the next few days. Obviously this list will be incredibly subjective, since these are the memories of the Pharoah that I hold closest to my heart; and I would love to hear what your favorite moments are in the comments! 
Today I’ll give you the first half of my favorite Pharoah memories, with the rest to follow in two days. Ready? Let’s go! 
10. The Travers Stakes

When American Pharoah’s team confirmed that he was heading to Saratoga for the Travers Stakes, I was so excited: to have the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years compete at America’s oldest sporting venue was a dream come true; but I was also incredibly nervous, because Saratoga is known as a place where favorites don’t always finish first. But that’s why they run horse races instead of just handing out a trophy: it’s all about the competition. 
A massive crowd arrived in upstate New York on Aug. 29 to witness history, and they were treated to a spectacular Saratoga day for the Travers Stakes, an event known to racing fans as the Mid-Summer Derby for its incredible sport and festival atmosphere. 

Fans lined the paddock and railing of the track, hoping to catch a glimpse of American Pharoah as he paraded before the crowd in the moments leading up to the race, and the anticipation was palpable in the air as the minutes ticked by. 

In the opening panels of the race, I (along with about 49,999 other people) thought American Pharoah had the Travers Stakes in the bag; but after a punishing speed duel with Frosted throughout the first 3/4 of the Travers, Keen Ice ran down American Pharoah to earn his second career victory in the Mid-Summer Derby. 

Keen Ice was impressive in victory, but I think the majority of fans at Saratoga felt a little like this guy after Pharoah came in second.

Even though American Pharoah didn’t win, it was a fantastic horse race and both American Pharoah and Keen Ice earned a standing ovation from the Saratoga crowd after the Travers. That reaction from the crowd is one of the things that makes Saratoga so special: even if the outcome of the race didn’t please popular opinion, everyone was grateful to have witnessed such an amazing sporting event, and it’s a horse race I know I’ll never forget. 
9. Before the Belmont 
It’s a little tricky to try to explain the time before the Belmont Stakes, because the days leading up to the third leg of the Triple Crown were a whirlwind of early commutes to the track, press conferences, writing, photography and jitters. From American Pharoah’s arrival at Belmont Park in the rain and the media scrum surrounding the horse’s connections to the post position draw in the middle of Rockefeller Center, the experience was both exciting and a little disorienting at times. 

I’ll never forget the crowds who showed up to watch American Pharoah gallop on the Friday before the Belmont, the hushed voices of the people who watched American Pharoah as he schooled in the paddock in the afternoon in front of raceday spectators, and the nervous excitement that surrounded the days leading up to the third jewel of the Triple Crown.
But at the center the Belmont Stakes whirlwind were two things: American Pharoah and the Triple Crown trophy. And in the end, they were the only things that really mattered.

8. Morning Workout at Del Mar 

I was lucky enough to be out at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club just outside of San Diego for American Pharoah’s final pre-Travers Stakes workout. While the Pharoah may have roots in Kentucky, he spends most of his time in California; so it was no surprise to me that fans turned out for his final workout where the surf meets the turf before he boarded a plane bound for New York. On Sunday, Aug. 23, droves of American Pharoah fans, both human and canine, came to Del Mar to watch the colt train for the Travers. 

Some people came with elaborate homemade costumes – like this lady, who had the coolest, most creative hat! 

The occasion was made even better by the fact that it was the first appearance of Smokey (American Pharoah’s stable pony and BFF who gained a huge fan following over the course of the Triple Crown) after he took a few months off after the Belmont. I love Smokey so much. 

After parading briefly for fans, American Pharoah put in a stellar workout that let everyone know that he was ready to try his heart out in the Travers Stakes six days later. 

It was wonderful to see the crowd that came out that morning to watch American Pharaoh simply work out, and there was such a fantastic camaraderie among fans as people shared tips on how to get the best view of the Triple Crown champ for the few minutes he was on the track. American Pharoah seems to bring out the best in his fans, and that feeling of fraternity was very palpable that morning at Del Mar. 
7. The Preakness Stakes 

How I love the Preakness Stakes! The middle jewel of the Triple Crown is all about potential: will the Kentucky Derby winner sweep this leg of the series, too, and become a horse of legend? Or will his quest for Triple Crown glory be cut short at the halfway point? The Preakness is always an exciting affair, and this year’s edition was made extra-memorable because it was practically a regatta instead of a race. 
You see, it rained a bit. 

Ok, a lot. It rained a lot. 

I am from Florida, and I have never been caught in a storm like that before; I lost a camera to the deluge, and I was one of the lucky ones. To say the track was muddy at the Preakness is to say that the ocean is big: you’re right, but you’re not really explaining the scope of the situation. It was hard to even see the racetrack through the huge drops of precipitation, and the wind and lightning made things even more interesting. But the great thing about horse racing fans is that a little weather never scared anyone off, and the race went off without a hitch. When American Pharoah splashed home with ease, I remember saying to myself, “My God, he could actually be the one.” And then I wished that I had immediate access to a towel, but that’s a different story. 

The immediate moments after the Preakness was so much fun: all of a sudden, the rain began to let up, and as American Pharoah made his way to the winner’s circle, trainer Bob Baffert ran hand-in-hand with his son Bode to meet the colt and his jockey Victor Espinoza.

You have to love Victor: he seemed to just be having so much *fun* with the whole experience. Between waving to the crowd, he managed to pour some water on Pharoah’s assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes and his groom Eduardo, because what’s a little more saturation after you’ve just won the first two legs of the Triple Crown? 

It was amazing. I freaking love the Preakness. 
6. The Day After the Travers Stakes 

Even though American Pharoah didn’t win the Travers Stakes, he was still a hero to so many of his fans and admirers. The morning after the Mid-Summer Derby, I went to the barn area of Saratoga to see if Bob Baffert was going to give a press conference and talk about how American Pharoah came out of the race. He did so much more than that: Bob not only brought the colt out to graze and let fans and press see him, but he went so far as to lead American Pharoah over to some kids and Pharoah fanatics and let them all pet the Triple Crown winner. 

Baffert even pulled some kids out of the crowd, escorted them beyond the security barriers and let them hold American Pharoah’s lead rope and pose with him.

I have never seen anything like that: instead of issuing a few terse words and nursing his wounds from the previous day’s loss, Bob Baffert elected instead to share American Pharoah with the colt’s fans. And the crazy thing is that this ultra-fit racehorse, a 3-year-old colt who’s worth tens of millions of dollars and who’s as strong as any Thoroughbred in America, loved the attention. He voluntarily stuck his nose into the crowds to beg for attention, and was as patient and kind with little children as an old riding school pony.

One of my favorite moments of that morning was when Bob noticed a child who was trying desperately to pat American Pharoah.  Asking the crowd, “Where’s the little girl? Can you make room for the little girl?” Baffert made sure that she and her brother were able to get close enough to the Triple Crown winner to touch him.

It was just a remarkable, moving, generous gesture, and one that made memories of a lifetime for so many people. It brings a smile to my face over a month later as I write about it, and I hope it does the same for you. 
That’s it for my first half of my favorite American Pharoah memories! I’ll be back a little later on this week with my top five; until then, please let me know in the comments what your favorite moments of the Triple Crown winner are.